Communication

Communication is about how we shape meaning, share ideas, and move people to think, feel, and act. Whether you’re studying a speech by Barack Obama, mentoring local students, analyzing protest slogans, or writing your own poetry, you will learn how language influences the world around us. Explore rhetorical power, persuasive strategy, stylistic nuance, and creative experimentation. Apply your knowledge to real life and get a deeper understanding of how communication can be used to connect people, challenge ideas, and create change.

Opening up Communication courses

In Communication, all 100 and 200-level courses are open to anyone. It is only for the 300-level courses that you need to complete the gateway course called Researching Humanities.

Courses in Communication

Gateway

Researching Humanities

Explores the role of the humanities in fostering critical thinking, empathy and cultural awareness. Introduces methodologies and research skills across Film and Media, Communication, Literature, and Heritage, Art and Museums, helping students make sense of the world through stories, images and technology. Prepares students for upper-level courses and emphasizes asking better questions rather than memorizing facts.

100-level

The Art of Rhetorical Communication

Do you want to master the art of persuasion? Do you want to win debates and to move audiences with your own compelling speeches? In this course you will discover how craft messages, use words that stick, influence opinions, inspire action and connect people. From Aristotle to Barack Obama, rhetorical communication has shaped the world and continues to do so. Learn the techniques used by history’s greatest communicators to move audiences, and apply those stylistic techniques to your own writing and speaking.

200-level

Rhetoric in Action

Want to make a difference in the Middelburg community? Want to find your voice—and help others find theirs too? In this course you will develop the power of persuasive speaking and share those skills with local primary school children who need strong role model. You will help them build public-speaking skills and empower them with confidence to find their voices. This course turns the theoretical study of rhetorical communication into material action in the real world. This isn’t just a rhetorical communication class—it’s a chance to change lives; the lives of others, and yours.

200-level

Style & Meaning

How do linguistic choices inform meaning and interpretation, in literary texts but also in a wide variety of non-fictional contexts? Students will be introduced to theoretical frameworks that will inform a close reading of texts to address questions about, for example, power dynamics in (fictional) dialogue; obligation and uncertainty in fictional characters, but also in politicians; or different ideological undertones embedded in word choice but also in structural combinations of words.

200-level

Communicating the Climate Crisis

How is the climate crisis communicated and contested? This course treats climate communication as a cultural struggle over meaning. You will analyze texts, films, exhibitions, protest art, slogans, and social media alongside theory and case studies. Rather than simply dismiss arguments, you will learn to dissect how they function in environmental discourse. The class culminates in a project where you enter the debate yourself.

300-level

Persuasive Communication

Sustainability starts with communication. In this course, where the power of ethical persuasion meets climate action, you’ll explore how language can shape the public understanding of climate issues. You will first learn persuasive communication models and frameworks and then apply them in the real world context of the Delta Climate Centre in Zeeland. Here, you will collaborate, as communication consultants, with climate scientists to produce ethical and impactful sustainability messaging foe the public on the themes of water, food and energy sustainability.

300-level

Creative Communication Laboratory

Creative Communication Laboratory explores how meaning is made through creative expression. You will first study and practice poetic forms, then experiment with sonic poetry, performance, and other unconventional forms of creative communication. Along the way, you will engage critically with theoretical texts and produce your own creative work. This course welcomes curiosity and experimentation. No prior experience is required, only a willingness to explore how communication becomes creative labor.

Also consider these options:

Media, Culture & Communication

The other fields within the Media, Culture & Communication cluster.

Media, Culture & Communication

Zeeland beach with blue skies and a few clouds during the day in the summer

Explore Delta Challenges!

To use your skills in storytelling and collaboration to drive sustainable solutions for vulnerable coastal regions.

Delta Challenges

Explore Applied Data Science!

To unlock insights that drive smarter storytelling and informed decision-making.

Applied Data Science

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The UCR Program Builder is designed to help you easily plan your academic program. Step by step, the tool guides you through selecting courses, building a balanced curriculum, and meeting UCR’s academic requirements.

Try the Program Builder

The UCR Program Builder is designed to help you easily plan your academic program. Step by step, the tool guides you through selecting courses, building a balanced curriculum, and meeting UCR’s academic requirements.

Try the Program Builder

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Communication

Communication

Opening up Communication courses

Courses in Communication

Courses in Communication

Researching Humanities

Researching Humanities

The Art of Rhetorical Communication

The Art of Rhetorical Communication

Rhetoric in Action

Rhetoric in Action

Style & Meaning

Style & Meaning

Communicating the Climate Crisis

Communicating the Climate Crisis

Persuasive Communication

Persuasive Communication

Creative Communication Laboratory

Creative Communication Laboratory

Also consider these options:

Also consider these options:

Media, Culture & Communication

Media, Culture & Communication

Explore Delta Challenges!

Explore Delta Challenges!

Explore Applied Data Science!

Explore Applied Data Science!